Former LSU football starter given important new role with Texas A&M

The last two years for LSU football have been a true rollercoaster ride. There have been highs, such as Jaray Jenkins’ phenomenal touchdown catch to beat Texas A&M in 2021, and there have been lows, like allowing Mississippi State to throw for over 600 yards in Tiger Stadium. Nevertheless, it’s been an interesting period in the program’s history.

Brian Kelly looks to have brought with him some stability to finally add to the Tigers. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels is a big part of steadying the ship, as well. LSU’s quarterback position has been a revolving door of mediocrity since Joe Burrow graduated. It now looks completely different, but those familiar faces are still hanging around the SEC. Max Johnson is one of these individuals, and he has now been given an important new role with Texas A&M.

Former LSU football starter given important new role with Texas A&M

The two-year Tigers starter* joined the Aggies in the offseason after announcing his intention to depart along with the coach who recruited him, Ed Orgeron. He has now been given the task of leading Texas A&M’s offense going forward. His first major test will come against the visiting Miami Hurricanes, who are currently ranked No. 13 in the country.

Jimbo Fisher decided to make the change and go with Johnson as his starter following a crushing defeat to unranked Appalachian State at Kyle Field last weekend. Haynes King—who returned from injury with high hopes this season—has been extremely underwhelming thus far against Sam Houston State and the Mountaineers.

Johnson will now be tasked with leading a Texas A&M team who had National Championship aspirations heading into the season. A 1-1 start is not what the Aggies envisioned given they still have to navigate their way through SEC play. Luckily for Fisher, Johnson has almost 20 games of starting experience at another SEC program under his belt.

Johnson proved during his time with the Tigers that he can be a serviceable starting quarterback in the Southeastern Conference. If the right weapons are put around him, he can be a star at best and a game manager at worst. Johnson tallied almost 4,000 yards and a 5:1 touchdown to interception ratio during his time at LSU.

All eyes will be on the third-year gunslinger this weekend when he makes his highly anticipated starting debut in College Station against the Hurricanes.

Elsewhere in the SEC, another former Tigers starter is having his situation assessed. The Auburn Tigers are 2-0 under Finley’s guidance so far this season, but he has also looked subpar. This speaks volumes about the dog and pony show that was the Bayou Bengals’ last two seasons.

The quarterback play in other places around the conference must have LSU fans feeling really good about their starter situation at this moment in time. Even though the Tigers are 1-1 heading into their SEC opener, Daniels has been one of the conference’s best signal callers early on. Fans will get to truly assess his performance against another star this weekend when his team squares off against the Bulldogs’ Will Rogers.

*- Myles Brennan was technically the starter in 2020, but an early-season injury saw Johnson and T.J. Finley split time with the former winning the quarterback competition in the end.